Loyola's Walko stops Chuasiriporn

May 17, 1994|By Steven Kivinski | Steven Kivinski,Contributing Writer

If there's any justice in the game of golf, it was well-served during yesterday's final round of the 54-hole Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association Individual Golf Championships at Mount Pleasant Golf Course.

Loyola senior Tim Walko, who practically handed the championship to teammate Joey Chuasiriporn last year when he was assessed a two-stroke penalty for raking and resetting his ball in a bunker, played by the rules this time around and his three-day total of 228 earned him his long-awaited Lumsden Award.

"Finally," said Walko as he walked off the green at No. 18, where he bogeyed to give him a final- round score of 78.

In his two previous rounds, which were played last week at Forest Park and Pine Ridge, Walko shot 73 and 75, respectively, putting him two shots behind Chuasiriporn heading into the final 18 holes -- a position Walko relished.

"Coming into today, I was happy not to be in the lead because that's what happened last year. When you're in the lead, it's harder because you're playing on the defense," said Walko, who led by five strokes on the turn after shooting even-par 36 on the front. "I was happy with the way I played on the front. But on the back, I kind of started to choke a little bit and the nerves started to kick in, but I held it and I hit the green on the [187-yard par 3] 17th."

Archbishop Curley senior Dan Mielke, who helped lead the Friars to an undefeated season in the B Conference, hit his share of greens yesterday and finished third with 77-80-78235.

Miguel Rivera of John Carroll was 1 over on the front, and his final- round score of 80 earned him fourth place -- the highest finish among the juniors.

Chuasiriporn's troubles started early as he made back-to-back double bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes. The Penn State-bound senior did manage to pick up three strokes on No. 13 when he birdied and Walko double-bogeyed the 369-yard par 4, but his run was short-lived. His second shot found the water on No. 15, where he registered his third double-bogey of the round and the tournament.

"I just couldn't putt today," said Chuasiriporn, who finished with 73-75-83231. "I had a lot of opportunities but I just couldn't make a putt. The wind was a big factor, but Tim seemed to handle it. He played great."

Walko's coach -- Marty Stewart -- agreed, adding, "Last year was heartbreaking for Tim. He was crushed for a long time, but he came out of that and played really well today."